Legislators say highway safety chief should be fired

Three Republican state representatives from Central Massachusetts yesterday called on Gov. Deval L. Patrick and Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray to fire Sheila Burgess, the state’s highway safety director, whom The Boston Globe reported has a driving record that includes seven accidents, four speeding violations, and two failures to stop for a police officer.

“It’s really unbelievable. You have an individual who has no qualifications for a safety program, other than she was a political operative and fundraiser for 20 years for politicians,” Rep. Ryan C. Fattman of Sutton said.

Also signing on to a press release demanding Ms. Burgess’ ouster were GOP Reps. Peter Durant of Spencer and Kevin J. Kuros of Uxbridge.

The three second-term lawmakers also asked the House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight to investigate patronage in the Patrick-Murray administration.

State public safety officials said yesterday that Ms. Burgess, a former fundraiser for U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, and principal in a firm that worked for Mr. Murray when he was a candidate for mayor of Worcester in the early 2000s, would be reassigned to another position in the state Office of Public Safety and Security.

“We have not reassigned her as of this point,” said Terrell Harris, a spokesman for the state public safety office. “We are trying to evaluate the situation to see exactly where she might fit in.”

Mr. Fattman insisted that Ms. Burgess, 48, should not be reassigned, but instead terminated from state employment.

The Sutton lawmaker said taxpayers should not foot Ms. Burgess’ $87,000 salary plus benefits, a compensation package he estimated at more than $100,000.

“That’s the problem with ‘Taxachusetts,’ ” said Mr. Fattman. “The money is not going to things like local aid. Instead it’s going to fund the friends and allies of those in elective office.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican or Democrat, it’s just wrong.”